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Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Help Hurricane Katrina Victims

UPDATE: The list was updated and reorganized on August 31, 2005 in the AM. This post was originally published on 08-30-2005 at 08:21 AM.

Government agencies and private relief organizations are mounting what the Washington Times reports is the largest mobilization ever for a natural disaster after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.

You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by making a financial donation to any of the following charities:

The American Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources in its history for a single natural disaster. More than two hundred Red Cross shelters are housing thousands of residents who fled Katrina’s wrath. More than 200 emergency response vehicles and countless other Red Cross resources are en route or on the scene to provide hot meals, snacks, bottled water and distribute other much-needed relief supplies.

You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by making a financial donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

Charity Navigator offers these suggestions ensure your donations get to those who need it:

Give To An Established Charity: Don't let an unscrupulous charity take advantage of your goodwill. Find a charity with a proven track record of success with dealing with this region and this type of disaster. Avoid fly-by-night charities created specifically to deal with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Even well-meaning new organizations will not have the infrastructure and knowledge of the region to efficiently maximize your gift. If you do feel compelled to give to a new charity, be sure to get proof that the group is in fact a registered public charity with 501 (c) (3) status.

Designate Your Gift: Worried that your donation will go towards the charity's general operating fund or saved for an upcoming crisis? This is a very understandable concern. Many charities do encourage donors not to designate their gifts so that the charity can decide how best to utilize the money, but depending on your confidence in the charity's ability to make that determination, you may want to tell the charity exactly how to use your gift. By designating your gift specifically for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, you'll ensure that your donation will be used for the victims of this particular disaster.

Avoid Telemarketers: Be wary of fundraisers who pressure you to make a contribution over the phone. Never divulge your credit card information to someone soliciting you via the phone. Instead, ask the fundraiser to send you written information about the charity they represent and do some research on your own. Once you feel comfortable with the charity, send the organization a check directly in the mail, or give through their website, thus ensuring 100% of your gift goes to the charity and not the for-profit fundraiser.

Research And Follow Up: As always, take the time to find a charity you can trust. Charity Navigator offers this list of highly-rated charities working in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to help you in your efforts. Use our free financial evaluations to search for other well-run charities worthy of your support. And be sure to follow up with the charity in a few months to find out (a) how your donation was put to use and (b) if they need additional support to complete the recovery effort.

California Yankee gives a sincere and hearty thanks to the following blogs for linking to this post and helping to spread the word on how to help the victims of hurricane Katrina:

» Katrina's Aftermath from Ed Driscoll.com
Will Collier has some thoughts on Hurricane Katrina's immediate aftermath, and the dangers of snap judgements:As the storm moved north yesterday, a number of commentators, both online and in the major media, were already starting to yowl that the pre-s... [Read More]

» Responding to Katrina from Political Animal
RESPONDING TO KATRINA....At the risk of sounding overly righteous every time disaster strikes, can I please suggest that Katrina is really not an appropriate subject for partisan jabbing right now? That goes for both left and right. If you want... [Read More]

Tracked on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

» Victim of Hurricane Katrina Needs Your Help from Scared Monkeys
The City of New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast of Mississippi has experienced an unthinkable disaster with the impact of Katrina. As of right now the experts are stating that New Orleans may be inhabitable for the next 2 months.
You can help ... [Read More]

Tracked on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

» Katrina Update from Minipundit
It's getting worse. 68 dead. Power outages everywhere. No shelter. Skyrocketing oil prices. 80% of the city underwater. And now it seems that it won't be inhabitable for at least a month. Kevin Drum links to a list of charity [Read More]

Tracked on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

» Hurricane Katrina Relief from Babalu Blog
I have been trying to write about the massive devastation up North due to Hurricane Katrina but the words just arent coming. We just lived through a post Cat 1 Katrina world and no matter how bad we had it,... [Read More]

Tracked on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

» Complete Evacuation from The Stakeholder
AP: With water rising in the streets of New Orleans and conditions rapidly deteriorating, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Tuesday that the tens of thousands of people now huddled in the Superdome and other rescue centers would have to be evacuated.... [Read More]

Tracked on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

» Hurricane Help from Rocket Jones
California Yankee has collect a list of links where you can go to help with recovery efforts.... [Read More]

Tracked on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

» Breakfast: 8/31/2005 from basil's blog
Try one of these specials with your breakfast: California Yankee lists ways to help Katrina victims. [via Ed Driscoll via One For The Road] Merry Mad Monk as a post-Katrina update. Fistful of Fortnights has a look at New Orleans. [Read More]

Tracked on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

» Hurricane Katrina Relief (Updated) from Babalu Blog
UPDATE: Please read the updates at the end of this post. I have been trying to write about the massive devastation up North due to Hurricane Katrina but the words just arent coming. We just lived through a post Cat... [Read More]

Tracked on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

» Help for Hurricane Victims from Dusting My Brain
Via Ted at Rocket Jones: California Yankee has compiled a list of places where you can make a financial contribution and help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In addition, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has a recommended list of charitabl... [Read More]

Tracked on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

» Helping Katrina’s victims from Fruits and Votes
California Yankee has an excellent post on how to help the victims of this terrible storm. A lot of research and thought went into the creation of his post.
... [Read More]

» Donate Now from Political Animal
DONATE NOW....The Red Cross Online Donation Page is here. Please go donate some money. You can also donate by phone: 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) If you want to donate to a different charity, there are lots to choose from. California Yankee has... [Read More]

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According to The Day, thesoutheastern Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers.

This Friday and Saturday, the offices will host two all-day training sessions to “fast track” new volunteers to help with disaster relief in the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina, Bolen said. Nationally, the Red Cross is looking for 9,000 volunteers to respond to the scene.

“If there's somebody who can make a three-week commitment, they can really make a difference,” she said. “It will be a hardship disaster assignment. The volunteers may have to sleep in tents or in community shelters, and there may be no electricity or air conditioning.”

Friday's session will teach new volunteers the ins and outs of disaster relief, while Saturday's session will focus on CPR and first-aid training. The Red Cross will conduct interviews and complete approval processes for new volunteers on an expedited schedule to enable those who qualify to leave for the hurricane zones by Monday or Tuesday, Bolen said.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and healthy. Transportation will be provided by the Red Cross.